Kings News

Baker: The mystery of Jonathan Quick revealed

With just eight more playoff wins, Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick could be anointed King Quick.

Yet, compared to other world-class caliber goalies, very little is known about the low-key netminder who's trying to lead his team to its first-ever Stanley Cup title.

Here are eight things you should know about the enigmatic, 26-year-old Vezina finalist:

1. His favorite off-ice attire: a hooded sweatshirt. The fashion choice also serves as protective armor -- especially on game days.

"When he's got the hoodie on, he's in the zone, and you try not to approach him," say those around the team.

2. He's got a rich fantasy life -- when it comes to football, that is.

Quick's obsession, outside of stopping rubber, is serving as commissioner of a fantasy NFL football league. In fact, Quick was reportedly devastated when his team won the regular season title but then got knocked out in the first round. Luckily, an early exit didn't happen to his Kings.

3. Islanders forward Matt Moulson is Quick's brother-in-law. Their wives -- Alicia and Jaclyn -- are sisters. Quick introduced Moulson to his then-girlfriend's sister while they were teammates for the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League. He and Moulson even have a joint charity initiative. Quick donates $500 for every one of his wins to the Kings Cares Foundation.

Quick's season tally: $21,500, so far.

4. Yo, yo, yo! The suburban New England native loves hip hop. His playlist is overflowing with the likes of Drake, Ludacris, Jay-Z and Kanye.

5. Quick left the University of Massachusetts after his sophomore year to turn pro, landing deep in the minors with the ECHL's Reading Royals.

"Looking back on it," Quick recalls, "it was definitely the best thing for me and it definitely helped me out. They made me work my way up as opposed to just handing me something that wasn't earned."

6. He's sleepy. Teammates have dubbed him the "All-Star sleeper." While with Manchester, his sleepiness once caused him to miss a practice, which led management to demote him temporarily to the ECHL.

A Kings source says of Quick's early-career "Sleepergate" scandal: "It was a wake-up call for him."

7. The nimble netminder is edgy -- literally. His goalie coach, Bill Ranford, explains the secret behind Quick's patented explosive lateral pushes: "A lot of goalies try to hurry and lose an edge and don't get a strong push, but he just has proper technique and loads on his inside edge on the front half of the blade, then pushes hard. There's no secret. He just technically does it right."

8. Quick, who grew up in Connecticut, was a fan of the New York Rangers growing up and Ranger goalie Mike Richter was his idol. Quick even played for the Junior Rangers as a kid. Doubtful, however, his childhood loyalty would diminish his fiery competitiveness should he face the Rangers in the Stanley Cup Final.